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Gwinnett bomb-sniffing dog to be laid to rest

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution August 11, 2009

By Andria Simmons

As bomb-sniffing dogs go, Rusty was something of a misfit.  Gwinnett County Police Department Retired Gwinnett police canine Rusty will be buried Wednesday in a cemetery for police service dogs in Bethlehem. Rusty was a bomb-sniffing dog who partnered with former Gwinnett Police Sgt. Danny Bayreuther for six years before he retired in 2005 due to old age.

Not long after the stray yellow lab mix was found wandering in rural Kansas, he tested high on an aptitude test for sniffing bombs, a job where purebreds normally excel.

The scrappy mutt began besting his purebred counterparts soon after he underwent explosive detection training in North Carolina, said his handler, former Gwinnett police Sgt. Danny Bayreuther.

“He passed every certification test with flying colors,” Bayreuther said.

Rusty joined the Gwinnett County Police Department in 1999, and for six years he and Bayreuther were constant companions at home and work. Rusty never sniffed out a live explosive, although he responded to numerous bomb threats.

He also conducted demonstrations for schoolchildren and performed bomb sweeps for visiting dignitaries such as first lady Hillary Clinton and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Each day when his partner donned a uniform, Rusty knew it was time to work. He would spin around and “go crazy,” Bayreuther said. When the department retired Rusty in 2005, it was bewildering for him.

“He was like ‘Where are you going without me?’ ” Bayreuther said. “He lived to go to work.”

Yet Rusty also lived happily in retirement for four years at the home Bayreuther shares with his wife (Gwinnett police Maj. Mindy Bayreuther) and young daughter.

Bayreuther made the agonizing decision to euthanize Rusty on Monday. The dog, who was believed to be 12, recently stopped eating and drinking, and he was in pain, Bayreuther said.

A graveside service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Oak Rest Pet Gardens in Bethlehem, where Rusty will be buried alongside other police service dogs.

“He stood out, but everybody just loved him,” Bayreuther said. “I wouldn’t have traded him for a purebred in the world.”

Honoring Willie B.

Atlanta Legend Willie B. Dies

If you have lived in Atlanta for any length of time, or anywhere within the continental United States for that matter, you’ve probably heard the name “Willie B.” at sometime or another. Willie B., as the silver back gorilla was lovingly known, lived his 41-year lifespan in the confines of Zoo Atlanta. Most of us born and raised in Atlanta, can remember going to visit Willie B. and watching his playful antics each year. Brought here direct from the wild at age 2, he spent more than half his life inside a concrete building with a television as his only playmate. After twenty-seven years, Willie B. was released into a lush outdoor habitat with other gorillas. Here Willie B. finally was able to roam freely about and begin a family. He was the proud father of four daughters and one son. The story of his sad beginnings began to see happier times. Unfortunately, it ended all too soon.

As most of you know, Willie B. died January of this year at the age of 41. What most Atlantans don’t know is that upon Willie B.’s death, Deceased Pet Care was contacted by Zoo Atlanta to handle Willie B.’s cremation services. The private cremation, which was conducted through DPC’s Equine Cremation Services, was held on a quiet, rainy afternoon soon after his death. As a tribute to Willie B. and all that he meant to the children of Atlanta, DPC donated the cost of its cremation services to Zoo Atlanta. After receiving the cremains in a custom-designed urn, Zoo Atlanta held a memorial service to honor and pay tribute to Willie B. The memorial service, which was attended by more than 2,500 people, was held at Zoo Atlanta and included several Atlanta dignitaries. Zoo Atlanta planned to scatter his cremains over Cameroon, Africa, Willie B.’s birthplace. However, listening to the publics input the decision was made to keep Willie B. in Atlanta and to commission a bronze urn with Willie B.'s cremains inside of it in the statue. The statute sits at the entrance to Zoo Atlanta. Visit and see this historical event at the Zoo Atlanta. It will be a feeling of how great animals can become in all our daily lives.

Deceased Pet Care was honored to be chosen to take part in such an historical occasion. A memorial plaque hangs in our offices marking the occasion. Willie B. will be forever missed by not only his devoted caretakers of Zoo Atlanta and the people of Atlanta, but by everyone, everywhere.
 

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